PSA2016 Interest Group Lunches
The PSA is helping to facilitate the organization of interest group lunches. Any attendee at PSA2016 is welcome submit a proposal for an interest group lunch and/or to sign up for and attend a meal. The PSA is not subsidizing the meals, but simply helping to facilitate their organization. Each attendee at the meals will be responsible for paying for her or his own meal. You can submit a proposal for an Interest Group Lunch below. If your proposal is accepted, you will be responsible for making a reservation at a nearby restaurant for the appropriate number of people. Co-hosting of meals is also welcome. Proposals consist of a title and a very brief description (no more than 70 words) for the proposed topic. Those hosting lunches will receive a free PSA t-shirt.
Topics and Locations are Below
Please note that the PSA is not subsidizing the meals, but simply helping to facilitate their organization. Each attendee at the meals will be responsible for paying for her or his own meal.PSA2016 Interest Group Lunch Topics & Locations
Thursday, November 3, 12:20 pm - 1:20 pm
- Philosophy of Medicine
Location: Sun Dial Restaurant (Westin Peachtree Plaza, Level 71; http://www.sundialrestaurant.com/)
Host(s): Miriam Solomon and David Teira
Description: We would like to organize a lunch for those interested in philosophy of science issues related to medicine. Miriam Solomon and David Teira are on the steering committee of the International Philosophy of Medicine Roundtable: https://philosmed.wordpress.com/. We organized this lunch at the last PSA and it was very successful, so we would like to organize it again.
Note: Miriam Solomon will be covering the cost of lunch (but not alcoholic drinks) for graduate students and junior (untenured) faculty.
Host(s): Miriam Solomon and David Teira
Description: We would like to organize a lunch for those interested in philosophy of science issues related to medicine. Miriam Solomon and David Teira are on the steering committee of the International Philosophy of Medicine Roundtable: https://philosmed.wordpress.com/. We organized this lunch at the last PSA and it was very successful, so we would like to organize it again.
Note: Miriam Solomon will be covering the cost of lunch (but not alcoholic drinks) for graduate students and junior (untenured) faculty.
- Space and Time After Quantum Gravity
Location: Amalfi Pizza (17 Andrew Young International Blvd, Fl 2; facebook.com/amalfipizzaATL; (404) 228-7528)
Host(s): Nick Huggett and Chris Wuthrich
Description: Theories proposed under the broad heading of quantum gravity - string theory, loop quantum gravity, casual sets, etc - promise profound new insights into space and time. What of classical spacetime remains on quantization? How are classical spacetime elements recovered? What of metaphysical concepts relying on classical spacetime? The organizers' project addresses such issues (www.beyondspacetime.net): over lunch we will exchange ideas about the most important lines of enquiry in this new philosophical field.
Host(s): Nick Huggett and Chris Wuthrich
Description: Theories proposed under the broad heading of quantum gravity - string theory, loop quantum gravity, casual sets, etc - promise profound new insights into space and time. What of classical spacetime remains on quantization? How are classical spacetime elements recovered? What of metaphysical concepts relying on classical spacetime? The organizers' project addresses such issues (www.beyondspacetime.net): over lunch we will exchange ideas about the most important lines of enquiry in this new philosophical field.
Friday, November 4, 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm
- Experimental philosophy of science
Location: Alma Cocina (Peachtree Tower, 191 Peachtree Street NE; alma–atlanta.com; (404) 968–9662)
Host(s): Michiru Nagatsu
Description: Experimental philosophy has been fruitfully applied in many areas of philosophy, such as moral psychology and epistemology, but its use in the philosophy of science has been limited. This interest group (X-phi of science) will discuss why this is the case, and how the situation can and should be changed.
Host(s): Michiru Nagatsu
Description: Experimental philosophy has been fruitfully applied in many areas of philosophy, such as moral psychology and epistemology, but its use in the philosophy of science has been limited. This interest group (X-phi of science) will discuss why this is the case, and how the situation can and should be changed.
- “Normal” vs. Disease Mechanisms
Location: White Oak Kitchen (270 Peachtree St NW; http://whiteoakkitchen.com; (404) 524-7200)
Host(s): Lindley Darden & Justin Garson
Description: Most of the work in the new mechanistic philosophy of science has been on "normal" mechanisms (not, of course, easy to define). Computational biologists are now drawing on this work to devise systems to represent disease mechanisms, both to aid medical researchers in discovering and evaluating mechanistic hypotheses, and to devise computational discovery systems. In the jargon of the field, this research uses "data" (e.g. statistical data from Genome Wide Association Studies) to aid the discovery of "knowledge." Philosophers are asked to reflect on whether diseases are always broken normals (Justin Garson's position?) or whether disease mechanisms should have independent status.
Host(s): Lindley Darden & Justin Garson
Description: Most of the work in the new mechanistic philosophy of science has been on "normal" mechanisms (not, of course, easy to define). Computational biologists are now drawing on this work to devise systems to represent disease mechanisms, both to aid medical researchers in discovering and evaluating mechanistic hypotheses, and to devise computational discovery systems. In the jargon of the field, this research uses "data" (e.g. statistical data from Genome Wide Association Studies) to aid the discovery of "knowledge." Philosophers are asked to reflect on whether diseases are always broken normals (Justin Garson's position?) or whether disease mechanisms should have independent status.
- Teaching Philosophy of Science in General Ed
Location: *** TBD ***
Host(s): Janet Stemwedel
Description: Do you teach a philosophy of science course whose audience is mostly non-philosophy majors? Are your students also scared of science? Share your experiences, strategies, and resources with others whose philosophy of science courses serve students without much background in philosophy or in science.
Host(s): Janet Stemwedel
Description: Do you teach a philosophy of science course whose audience is mostly non-philosophy majors? Are your students also scared of science? Share your experiences, strategies, and resources with others whose philosophy of science courses serve students without much background in philosophy or in science.
- Science and Values
Location: Hsu’s Gourmet (192 Peachtree Center Ave NE; hsus.com; (404) 659-2788)
Host(s): Mathew Brown and P.D. Magnus
Description: We'll discuss the current debates over whether science is value-laden and what roles values do and should play in science. Has the field moved on from debates over the value-free ideal? What are the current views and controversies of greatest interest? Do we need general accounts of values in science, or should we stick to particular cases?
Host(s): Mathew Brown and P.D. Magnus
Description: We'll discuss the current debates over whether science is value-laden and what roles values do and should play in science. Has the field moved on from debates over the value-free ideal? What are the current views and controversies of greatest interest? Do we need general accounts of values in science, or should we stick to particular cases?
Saturday, November 5, 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm
- Decision Theory
Location: Atlanta Braves All-Star Grill (All-Star Grill 200 Peachtree St NE; bravesgrill.com; (404) 205–5257)
Host(s): Paul Weirich
Description: In philosophy, decision theory treats rational choice. It describes rationality's requirements for a decision. Because rationality is sensitive to an agent's abilities and circumstances, principles of rationality proposed often target ideal agents in ideal circumstances. Sometimes the consequences of an agent's choice depend on the choices of other agents. This happens in games, and decision theory addresses the rationality of decisions in games. It is allied with game theory, especially epistemic game theory.
Host(s): Paul Weirich
Description: In philosophy, decision theory treats rational choice. It describes rationality's requirements for a decision. Because rationality is sensitive to an agent's abilities and circumstances, principles of rationality proposed often target ideal agents in ideal circumstances. Sometimes the consequences of an agent's choice depend on the choices of other agents. This happens in games, and decision theory addresses the rationality of decisions in games. It is allied with game theory, especially epistemic game theory.
- Teaching Phil Sci at 4 yr/Lib Arts College
Location: Meehan’s Public House Downtown (200 Peachtree St NE; meehansdowntown.com; (404) 214–9821)
Host(s): Laura Ruetsche and Caro Brighouse
Description: Teaching philosophy of science, as well as being a (or the!) philosopher of science, at a 4 year and/or liberal arts institution can come with its own set of challenges, pedagogical and political, as well as opportunities. Let's talk about those!
Host(s): Laura Ruetsche and Caro Brighouse
Description: Teaching philosophy of science, as well as being a (or the!) philosopher of science, at a 4 year and/or liberal arts institution can come with its own set of challenges, pedagogical and political, as well as opportunities. Let's talk about those!
- New Philosophy of Science Faculty
Location: Amalfi Pizza (17 Andrew Young International Blvd, Fl 2; facebook.com/amalfipizzaATL; (404) 228-7528)
Host(s): Emily Parke and Joyce Havstad
Description: We, the co-hosts, began new faculty positions in 2015, and would like to assemble a larger cohort of philosophers of science in new tenure-track (or equivalent) jobs. This lunch will be an informal forum for recently hired (~0–3 years) faculty members to discuss topics of mutual interest, including, but not limited to, balancing teaching and research, balancing work and the rest of life, and preparing for the tenure process.
Host(s): Emily Parke and Joyce Havstad
Description: We, the co-hosts, began new faculty positions in 2015, and would like to assemble a larger cohort of philosophers of science in new tenure-track (or equivalent) jobs. This lunch will be an informal forum for recently hired (~0–3 years) faculty members to discuss topics of mutual interest, including, but not limited to, balancing teaching and research, balancing work and the rest of life, and preparing for the tenure process.